The State - News from May 9, 1985

California’s 106 community colleges need $120.3 million immediately to upgrade and replace decades-old equipment, Chancellor Gerald Hayward and Lois Callahan, president of San Mateo College, said. Callahan, who directed a study of the problem, said in a statement that “. . . in some cases, the deteriorating condition of the equipment may make it impossible for our system to meet state and federal mandates for some programs. . . . We can’t let this happen.” Hayward said community college supporters are asking the state for $54 million for new equipment--part of the total $182-million increase in the state budget for the 1985-86 fiscal year that the schools want. Gov. George Deukmejian vetoed $232 million for community colleges in 1983 to try to force the schools to accept student tuition for the first time. This year, he has proposed giving the schools a $50-million budget increase, or 4.5%.